Destiny came to visit the other day in the most peculiar way.

It silently beside me took a seat, and gently bound my feet.

It quietly handed me the remote; never a word was ever spoke.

I aimlessly surfed the channels and saw things my eyes couldn’t handle.

I stumbled upon the “Great American Race”,

And became consumed by the challenges they had to face.

For there, before me, it stood; the key to my ancestor-hood.

A great statue, designed to pierce the hearts of those

who can not comprehend what freedom holds.

A symbolism of terror & fear, love & peace,

Kindred, slavery, bondage, freedom, and grace.

              Africa, Oh! Africa, land of good and plenty,

              Open thy arms to me,

              For I come from the home of the brave and the land of the free.

             Africa, Oh! Africa, what can I plunder from thee,

              I come from the home of the brave and the land of the free.

              Africa, Oh! Africa, I shall give to thee riches

              That no other can compare.

              In return, I will borrow thy people for a short time,

              The exchange will be fair.

              Africa, Oh! Africa, please hear my plea.

              For I come from the land of the free,

              I can be trusted, you shall see.

Africa opened her heart and arms, for there was no reason for her to be alarmed.

She let them pick the elite of her land,

the most voluptuous women and the mandingo-man.

Her people, some came freely from miles and miles around,

Not one of them shackled, not one; of them bound.

Upon the courtyard, they did descend, eager to help the pale-faced men.

One by one, they were ushered in, never to be seen or heard from again.

That place, that moment in time,

shall forever be frozen and embedded in my mind.

              Africa, Oh! Africa, at your point of no return,

              A valuable lesson that day, I learned.

              It hauntingly stands so brave and bold today,

              In hopes that it is wisdom from her, you take away.

I, awesomely, watched this hypnotic place,

Retell the story of how man fell from grace.

More than 100 years have long since passed,

But, in this ending place, life stands overwhelming still,

It reminds us how man tried to break God’s will.